Martha A. Kaeser

Clinical Practice Guideline: Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to provide an update of a previously published evidence-based practice guideline on chiropractic management of low back pain. METHODS This project updated and combined 3 previous guidelines. A systematic review of articles published between October 2009 through February 2014 was conducted to update the literature published since the previous Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP) guideline was developed. Articles with new relevant information were summarized and provided to the Delphi panel as background information along with the previous CCGPP guidelines. Delphi panelists who served on previous consensus projects and represented a broad sampling of jurisdictions and practice experience related to low back pain management were invited to participate. Thirty-seven panelists participated; 33 were doctors of chiropractic (DCs). In addition, public comment was sought by posting the consensus statements on the CCGPP Web site. The RAND-UCLA methodology was used to reach formal consensus. RESULTS Consensus was reached after 1 round of revisions, with an additional round conducted to reach consensus on the changes that resulted from the public comment period. Most recommendations made in the original guidelines were unchanged after going through the consensus process. CONCLUSIONS The evidence supports that doctors of chiropractic are well suited to diagnose, treat, co-manage, and manage the treatment of patients with low back pain disorders.

A case report of an intermuscular lipoma: presentation, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report is to present the case of a 54-year-old female patient with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of soft tissue lipoma. The clinical presentation, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment options for lipoma are described. CLINICAL FEATURES The patient presented to a chiropractic clinic with painful swelling in the right anterior thigh. Physical examination revealed a palpable mobile mass with minimal tenderness. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME The initial consultation was with the primary care physician, and it resulted in a sonographic examination as the initial imaging modality to rule out deep venous thrombosis. The result of this examination was negative. Following a delay by additional incorrect diagnoses and treatments, a diagnosis of an intermuscular lipoma was established by magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed on biopsy as a soft tissue lipoma. The patient underwent complete excision of the mass. CONCLUSION Lipomas are common benign soft tissue masses and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a thigh mass. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast depicts the lipomatous mass as having a characteristic high-intensity fat signal without enhancement. It is important for clinicians to have an increased awareness in recognizing the clinical and imaging manifestations of a soft tissue lipoma to optimize an initial diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosis and serial sonography of a proximal fifth metatarsal stress fracture

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report is to describe a fifth metatarsal stress fracture that was not detectable using conventional radiographs and was identified with diagnostic ultrasonography (US), confirmed with computed tomography, and followed through symptom resolution with US. CLINICAL FEATURES A 68-year-old woman presented to a chiropractic teaching clinic for evaluation of right foot pain. Diagnostic US examination using an 8- to 15-MHz linear array transducer showed increased vascularity, periosteal elevation, and cortical disruption of the proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal suggestive of a stress fracture. The patient was referred to an orthopedic specialist for comanagement. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME The patient was treated by an orthopedist who confirmed a stress fracture using computed tomography, and she was fit with a short-leg walking boot. Serial US images were obtained to document fracture healing and exclude complications. After 6 months, the patient was asymptomatic and had resumed all of her daily activities. CONCLUSION We report a case of a proximal fifth metatarsal stress fracture that was visualized with US and followed through symptom resolution by serial examinations.

Patient characteristics upon initial presentation to chiropractic teaching clinics: A descriptive study conducted at one university

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare demographics and chief complaints of the new patient population at our institutions fee-for-service clinics to the patient population of practicing chiropractors in the United States. We also compared the prevalence of obesity and hypertension to reference standards for the adult population. Methods : Patient data were obtained from the electronic health records. All records identified as new patients during October 2013 were included. Variables of interest were clinic site, patient demographics, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), chief complaint, and ICD-9 codes. Descriptive statistics were computed and compared to reference standards from previous reports. Results : During October 2013, there were 224 new patients that entered the clinics. The average patient was a 31- to 50-year-old white male. Our clinic patients differed from those seen by US chiropractors in the distribution of all demographic variables. For adult patients, 31.4% were overweight, 29% were obese, and 8% stage 1 or 2 hypertension. Conclusion : New patients in the fee-for-service teaching clinics appear to be dissimilar to those of US practicing chiropractors in several important demographics, characteristics, and types of complaints. The new patients had lower levels of overweight, obesity, and hypertension compared to US reference standards.

Tumefactive multiple sclerosis: an uncommon diagnostic challenge

OBJECTIVE This case report describes a rare presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) that was initially diagnosed as a peripheral nerve lesion in the emergency department. CLINICAL FEATURES A 30-year-old woman presented to a chiropractic teaching clinic with a complaint of a sudden right foot drop. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a large mass in the left parietal lobe with additional white matter lesions. The mass and smaller lesions were consistent with a rare presentation of demyelinating disease, tumefactive MS. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME The patient was referred to a neurologist for further evaluation and treatment. Her short-term clinical course was punctuated by recurrent myospasms and neurologic deficits. CONCLUSION Tumefactive MS may mimic the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of glioma or a cerebral abscess. The clinical presentation, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, role of diagnostic imaging, and treatment options of MS are described. This case report illustrates that the timely diagnosis and optimal treatment of MS require recognition of its varied, sometimes atypical, and often nonspecific clinical and imaging manifestations.

Community-based free clinics: opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, health promotion, and complex care management.

OBJECTIVE Free or outreach clinics offer students the opportunity to work with diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of a sample of chiropractic patients at a free community-based clinic to assess clinical and educational opportunities for students to work with diverse populations, collaborate with other professions and practice health promotion through patient education. METHODS This was a prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over 2 months. Data on demographics, health status, and health risks were collected from patients and their interns. RESULTS Of the 158 patients, 50.6% were women and 50.6% African-American, while only 20.9% were employed full-time. Of the 24.7% tobacco users, 48.7% expressed interest in cessation. Of 80.0% overweight or obese patients, 48.8% expressed interest in weight loss. By self-report, 16.5% were diabetic, 10.1% took hypertension medication, 36.7% used prescription pain medication (9.4% opiate use), 33.5% used nonprescription pain medication, and 9.4% were under the care of a mental health professional. CONCLUSION This patient population is demographically diverse. A high proportion of patients who used tobacco, or were overweight or obese expressed interest in information on those topics. A substantial proportion reported being under care with a mental health professional. This clinic provides opportunities for students to work with diverse populations, collaborate with other professions, and practice health promotion.

Ultrasonography and radiography to identify early post traumatic myosistis ossificans in an 18-year-old male: a case report.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient with post traumatic myositis ossificans (PTMO) of the anterior thigh following blunt trauma and discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, management, and imaging findings. CLINICAL FEATURES An 18-year-old male presented to a chiropractic clinic with a chief complaint of left knee pain and reduced range of motion after an impact injury to his left anterior thigh during hurdling 6 weeks earlier. Immediately after the injury, he presented to the emergency department where radiography of the left knee was negative and he was diagnosed with a muscle sprain. Follow-up radiography and ultrasonography of the left knee in a chiropractic radiology department revealed ossification consistent with PTMO within his vastus intermedius. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME The patient underwent a course of rehabilitation for 2 months including ice, class IV cold laser and vibration applied to his anterior thigh, and myofascial release of his quadriceps musculature with targeted and progressive rehabilitative exercises. His left knee pain resolved within 2 weeks of care. He resumed sports participation (American football) pain-free, while wearing protective padding over the affected thigh, 1 month after presentation, which was approximately 2 1/2 months following his injury. CONCLUSION This case demonstrates that ultrasonography may have the capability to detect early phases of PTMO approximately 2 weeks prior to radiographic evidence and to monitor progression throughout its course.

Tuberculous spondylitis presenting as severe chest pain

This case report describes a 32-year-old male who presented to an emergency department with severe chest pain and a history of cough, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight. Chest radiography revealed a left upper lobe consolidation and multiple compression deformities in the thoracic spine. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated significant kyphosis and vertebral plana at two thoracic levels. Anterior compression of the spinal cord and adjacent soft tissue masses were also noted.